Orthopedic last-fitting apparatus



Aug. 28, 1928.

1,682,579 C. OLIVER ORTHOPEDIC LAST FITTING APPARATUS Filed N0v.9, 1925 5- SheetsSheet 1 UHHHH I men/0r (why/70h 0//1 6/ WW WW}.

Aug. 28, 1928.

C. OL!VER on'morsnic LAST FITTING APPARATUS Filed NOV.9, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 3 W x i W 0 j W w 9/ Q in Z Fm fi A Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES cAs'rAoNoLA OLIVER, or BROOKLYN, new YORK.

OBTHOPEDIC LAST-FITTING APPARATUS.

Application filed November 9, 1925. Serial No. 67,843.

This invention relates to improvements in processes and apparatus used in obtaining true and accurate reproductions of individual human feet.

It is well known that a persons feet are seldom exactly mates in length, breadth and shape, that malformations are common, flat feet or fallen arches prevalent, and corns, bunions, callouses, and like disordered conditions are the rule rather than the exception.

Some of these disorders are congenital, others ac uired by improper methods of exercising t e feet in walking, by accidental injury or disease, but a far greater number is due to wearing ill fitting, improperly made shoes, either under mistaken ideas of economy, or of following fashion without considering requirements tending to ease and comfort.

WVhen the condition of an individuals feet arrive at an intolerable stage recourse is made to shoes fitted to the feet rather than further endure the pain and discomfort of fitting the feet to shoes as hitherto done.

This nvolves making a pair of lasts in conformity withthe shape of the feet, including any ineradicable malformations that exist.

i To carvea wooden last, as a true foot duplicate, -is an undertaking practically impossible of performance, and i it beaccomplished such lasts are liable to shrink, crack and soon become useless, due to the severe handling accorded them in forming shoes thereon.

It is therefore a feature of this invention to provide means for making a metal last, aluminum being preferred, that shall be an exact counterpart of the foot, including all its sinuosities and contours.

A further object is in the provision of an apparatus by which a mold may be made of the feet and in which the natural angles of each foot relative to the body is taken into consideration.

These and other objects of corresponding character are accomplished by the novel con struction and combination of parts and use of processes hereinafter described and illus trated in the accompanying drawin s, constituting a material component of this disclosure, and in which Fig. 1, is a side elevational view of an. embodiment of the invention, showing in full lines its application when making a mold, and in broken lines another a p Jlication when obtaining true normal angles of the feet.

Fig. 2, is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig, 3, is a partial front elevational view of one of the foot adjusting devices.

Fig. i, is a plan View of the adjustable foot supports and calibrating means confined therewith, looking on line 4-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5, is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig; 4.

Fig. 6, is a fragmentary front view of the rack and pinion adjusting device.

Fig. 7, illustrates the preferred material for making the molds.

Fig. 8, is a plan view ofthe seat as extended to support the legs of a user.

Fig. 9, is a similar view of the same showing the parts in a receded position.

Fig. 10, is a sectional view taken on line 10-1O of Fig. 9..

F g. 11, is a front view of the same.

Fig. 12, is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 1212 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 13, is a side clevational view, partially in section, showing a modification in foot support adjusting means.

Fight, is a partial side elevational, partial sectional view of a modified type of adjusting device.

Stated, in general terms the apparatus comprises a hollow base on which is arranged aplatform to slide rearwardly between posts. fixed in the base and rigidly connected in pairs.

A seat is adjustably engaged to the posts, and movable up and down to accommodate persons of different stature. Molding ma terial is applied to each foot individually and when partially set or hardened, the

platform is moved rearwardly, disclosing various adjustable supports and gages through the opening in the base.

A harness is applied to'the person in a manner to suspend the same by the-posts so that each foot may freely assume its normal angles, sidewise, lengthwise and otherwise during a complete relaxation of the muscles, thereby disclosing. any deformity, so that the same may be taken into consideration in making the lasts to suit an individual- Referring more in detail to the drawings, the numeral 20 designates in general a hollow oblong rectangular base structure having a transverse partition 21 and provided with a platform 22 in the forward portion of which is an opening 23, covered normally by a plate 2f, this plate being slidable rearwardly between a pair of opposed flanged guides 25 fixed parallel to the side edges of the platform.

Fixed on the platform, rearward of the opening 2% and adjacent the sides, are a pair of posts 26 and spaced therefrom at the rear of the platform, is a second hair of posts 27, these posts being connected at the sides by cross members 28 midway in their length and at the top by similar members 29 to afford a firm structure.

Slidable on the front posts 26 are brackets 30 attached to a seat 31, which may be provided with a back 32, the height of the seat registering on a scale 33 carried by one or both the front posts. Y

The seat is adjustable in height by a screw 34 actuated by a hand wheel 35, the screw operating in a nut formed in a yoke 36 fixedly secured to the posts, as shown in Fi 1.

indicated in Figures 8 to 11, the seat 31 is of considerable thickness and has formed in its lower side a pair of undercut recesses to receive slides 37, in turn recessed in the under sides to receive other slides 38.

The slides 3700mm slots 39 in which operate limiting pins 40 fixed in the lower slides. the last nai'nedslides being provided with fixed stops t1, and both pairs of slides are provided with graduations 42 and 43 respectively. I

These slides, whendrawn out, afford supports for the lower limbs when extended, and when folded below the seat, as in Fig. l, are no obstacle to sitting in comfort, whereas the narrow forward portion 31 of the seat adapted to accon'nnodate children.

A pair of cushions 44 are disposed on the slidable plate 24 in which the bare feet of the individual to he treated may rest, whereupon each foot is encased in a thick covering of molding material, preferably a wax 4G dipsoscd in striations with a woven fabric 47 between the layers, two of which are preferred. as shown in. Fig. 7.

This material is rendered semi-plastic and readily pliable by heat and applied in a soft condition directly to the naked feet and pressed to touchthe entire surface by hand.

\Vhen these molds have set or become hardened to a suitable extent, they are split lengthwise at the top, to allow the'foot to be removed and the mold pressed together at theslit and allowed to completelyharden.

These molds are afterwards filled with plaster" of Paris or like material, giving an absolutely true foot shape as will be evident, and then used as patterns for casting metal lasts upon which shoes may be built that will always fit the feet, these lasts having wooden inserts at appropriate places to receivc nails or like fastening used in shoe making.

Prior to casting the lasts it is essential that the feet be calibrated to ascertain a true position relative to the body; it may be found that the foot extends at an angle from a horizontal plane, that is, the front portion may be raised or dipped.

Also the feet may diverge or converge, that is, too in or toe out, and again, the feet may be out of level or in rolling position.

To give the greatest degree of comfort attainable, all these peculiarities must be taken into consideration by the shoe maker and means for such calibration, which are part of this invention will now be described.

A pair of racks 50 are rigidly secured to the posts 27, near their upper ends, and slidable on the posts are brackets 51 having extensions at the rear in which are mounted a spindle 52 carrying pinions 53, engaged with the racks, the spindle being rotatable by the hand wheel 54 or the like.

Projections on the front of the brackets carry rigid arms which extend in arallel towards the front, where they are rigidly connected by caps 56 with diagonal braces 57 extending to tubular slides 58 movable on the rear parts 2", and engaged by connections 59 with the brackets 51 A wide belt 60 is secured by fasteners 61 around the body of the individual, the belt being provided with straps 62 having hooks carrying pulleys 63 at their upper free ends adapted to engage the arms at any point along their length.

The foregoing constitutes a harness by the use of which the body may be suspended and raised by actuating of the hand wheel 5 t to any suitable height so that the feet may hang freely and unsupported, assummg their natural position, it being understood that the mnscles of the lower limbs be wholly relaxed.

On the bottom plate of the base 20 secured two raised, hollow longitudinal brackets 65, each having near their ends bosses 66 and 67 which are fixed to the lower ends ofupright cylindrical bars (38 and (3!), respectively at the front and rear, these bars being provided with racks 7t) and 71 having diagonal teeth as shown in detail in Fig. 6.

These bars are enclosed in slidahle sleeves 72 and 73, recessed to receive the racks: near the lower ends of the sleeves are lugs 74 and 75 having between them spiral gears 76 and 77 meshing with the rack teeth and fixedly mounted on shafts 78' and 79, journalled in the lugs and extending at one end through vertical slots in the sides of the base where they are provided with hand wheels 80 and 81.

The sleeves are furnished with scales 84 lllt and and pointers 82 and 83 fixed on the front and rear walls respectively as best seen in Fig. 5.

The forward sleeves 72 carry rearwardly projecting flat plate brackets 86 on which are cushions 87 to receive the forward portion of a persons foot, the heel portion resting on like cushions 88 carried on plate brackets 89 connected with the upper ends of the rear sleeves 73.

The brackets 89 have attached to their side edges pairs of upper and lower arms 90 and 91, the former having rack teeth on its lower' edge and being provided with a scale 92, the sale having pointer 93 fixed on the upper end of the sleeve 73. Y

The bracket 89 is moved towards or from the front by pinions 94 engaging the racks 90, the pinions being fixed on spindles 95, journalled in the sleeve and actuated by knurled knobs 96, the spindles being clamped when in adjustment by friction nuts 97 screwed on the spindles.

The brackets are maintained horizontally by pins 98 fixed in forwardly reaching extensions 99 of the sleeves 73 and are limited in their forward movement by stops 100.

In the forward end of the brackets 89 are guide ways in which are mounted vertical slides 101 and 102 arranged in spaced connected pairs, at each side of the sleeve and movable independently by rack-andpinion connections, actuated by hand knobs 103 and 104 and clamped when in adjustment by screws 105 and 106, these slides being provided with spurs 107 and 108 set in their upper ends.

A strap 110 is provided for each foot, the strap having ends 111 containing openings 112 suited to engage the spurs, and secured on the strap is a second strap 113, connected to orm a loop in which the foot is inserted ani lirld by a buckle 114.

From the foregoing it will .be seen that the foot may be raised at either side, the loop acting as asling, while the footcan assume a natural inclination In the modification shown in Fig. 13 a sleeve 120 is illustrated as being integral with the bracket 65 and bored to receive a rack bar 121 carrying a bracket 86. In this case a pinion 122 meshes with the teeth of the rack and is actuated by rotation of the shaft 123, housed in the upper end of the sleeve 120 and therefore is retained in the same horizontal plane at all times.

In Fig. 14 an alternative form of ad usting means is disclosed in which the racks 50 on the posts 27 are dispensed with and for them is substituted screw threads 125, carrying a nut 126 having a gear 127 at its upper end, the nut and gear operating in a housing 128.

A shaft 129 journalled transversely in the housing, drives a pinion 130 engaging the gear 127, thereby moving the housing up or down upon the post, and with these elements an arm 55 as previously described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that each foot may be individually calibrated and records may be taken of the same, whereby lasts may be made to conform with the feet or to correct the same by shoes made upon the lasts.

The foregoing is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of the invention, of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed including many modifications without departing from the general scope herein indicated and denoted in the appended claims. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A foot molding apparatus comprising a platform, pairs of upright posts thereon brackets slidable on the upper portion of said posts, said brackets having forwardly extending arms, means for positively raising or lowering said brackets, and a harness suspended from said arms, said harness being engageablewith the body of a person.

2. A foot molding apparatus comprising a hollow base having a partially open top, a slidable platform on said base, upright posts fixed on said base, a harness to engage the body of a person, and means on said posts to suspend said harness at different lengths whereby the feet may be raised from the platform.

3. A foot molding apparatus comprising a hollow base having a partially open top, a platform movable on said base, pairs of upright posts fixed on said base, a height adjustable seat guided by the posts .whereby a persons feet may be disposed level on said platform, and means in said base to ascertain the dimensions and angular inclinations of a persons feet individually.

4. A foot molding apparatus comprising a hollow base having a partially open top, a slidable platform on said base, pairs of upright posts fixed on said base, a seat guided by the posts, a pair of extensions slidably engaged with said seat, means limiting the extraction of said extensions, scales by which the movement of said extensions is ascertained, means for positively adjusting the height of said seat and extensions, and a scale to indicate the distance of said seat from the platform.

5. A foot molding apparatus comprising a hollow base having a partially open top, a platform movable on said base, pairs of upright posts fixed on said base, a height adjustable seat guided by the posts, independent extensible supports for each of the lower limbs carried by said seat, and a narrow rigid extension at the front of the seat.

6. In an apparatus for measuring a persons feet, a support for each foot composed of two independent sections, rack and gear means for independently actuating said support sections toward and from each other, cushions on said supports to receive a foot, positive mechanical means for raising or lowering each section of said supports independently of the other section, and indexes for each of said sections of the supports.

7. In an apparatus for measuring a per sons feet, a pair of foot supports, each having front and rear sections, means for moving the sections ofsaid supports towards and from each other, cushions on said supports to receive a foot, means for positively raising or lowering each section of saidsnpports independently of the other section, indexes for each of said sections, a flexible stirrup to receive each foot,straps at the a foot, means for raising or lowering each section of said supports independently of the other end, flexible floating loops into which each foot is entered and means for aising and lowering said loops.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this application.

oiisTAGroLA OLIVER.

Ill) 

